Navantia Offers Full ToT for Advanced AIP system to India that can also be used in the Project-76 program

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

Spanish shipyard Navantia has proposed an unprecedented offer of complete Transfer of Technology (ToT) for its cutting-edge AIP system, the Bio-Ethanol Stealth Technology (BEST). Designed to enhance stealth and operational capabilities, the BEST AIP system is at the forefront of submarine propulsion technology. Navantia’s proposal positions it as a strong contender in India’s strategic submarine programs, including the ambitious Project-75 (I) and future initiatives such as Project-76.

The BEST system is an advanced Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology that allows submarines to recharge their batteries while submerged. This eliminates the need for periodic snorkelling, a manoeuvre during which the submarine must surface, exposing itself to detection and potential attack. The innovative system uses a bioethanol reforming process, a renewable fuel derived from organic feedstock, to produce a hydrogen-rich stream. This hydrogen is combined with pure oxygen in a fuel cell, generating electrical power silently and stealthily.